After the sermon followed Holy Communion. He partook of
the bread and wine, and it so happened that he knelt by the side of
Miss Clara; but his thoughts were so fixed upon heaven and the Holy
Sacrament that he did not notice his neighbour until he rose from
his knees, and then he saw tears rolling down her
cheeks.
She left Skjagen and went to Norway two days later. He
remained behind, and made himself useful on the farm and at the
fishery. He went out fishing, and in those days fish were more
plentiful and larger than they are now. The shoals of the mackerel
glittered in the dark nights, and indicated where they were
swimming; the gurnards snarled, and the crabs gave forth pitiful
yells when they were chased, for fish are not so mute as people
say.
Every Sunday Jurgen went to
